NFL: Preseason-Buffalo Bills at Chicago Bears
NFL: Preseason-Buffalo Bills at Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears have a defensive problem that could get worse before it gets better.
Tyrique Stevenson is week-to-week with a hamstring injury while Kyler Gordon remains unavailable. Coby Bryant is already sidelined, leaving the secondary short on proven answers just as the Bears prepare to face the Eagles and a difficult stretch of the season.
That is why Chicago should at least make a call about Joey Porter Jr.
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Aug 13, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (24) watches the game against the Green Bay Packers during the second half at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images
To be clear, there is no report that the Bears are pursuing the Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback. But the circumstances around Porter have created an unusual opening. NFL insider Tom Pelissero said Steelers general manager Omar Khan’s phone has been “ringing” about Porter, and added that a trade is as plausible as Porter simply playing out the season in Pittsburgh.
That is not a guarantee Porter will move. It does mean, however, teams searching for cornerback help should pay attention. After two weeks, the Bears belong in that group, though they still have Jaylon Johnson as the foundation of the position and rookie Malik Muhammad has shown encouraging flashes. But injuries have tested the group quickly. Stevenson’s status is uncertain, Gordon has yet to return from the physically unable to perform list and the Bears have been forced to consider multiple contingency plans at nickel and outside corner.
Porter would immediately change that conversation.
At his best, the former second-round pick is a long, physical outside corner capable of matching up with bigger receivers. He was drafted to handle opposing top targets, the type of assignment Chicago will see plenty of in a division and conference loaded with high-end pass catchers.
Yet, the Steelers also have not suffered without him through two games. Their defense ranks among the league’s leaders in passing yards allowed and opponent passer rating, while Asante Samuel Jr. has stepped in effectively. Pittsburgh can still value Porter highly while recognizing it has enough depth and enough off-field uncertainty to listen if another team makes a serious offer.
That is where the Bears’ interest should begin, but it should not end there.
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Nov 30, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (24) takes the field against the Buffalo Bills at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Porter comes with major red flags, beginning with his health. He missed training camp with a back injury, has not played this season and has been listed as limited while he works through conditioning. The corner acknowledged this week that the back still flares up and said he does not know when he will be ready to return.
He also expects to be on a snap count whenever he does make his debut.
That means Porter would not be a simple plug-and-play answer for Chicago. The Bears would be acquiring a player who may not be ready to help immediately while asking him to step into a new defense and a new locker room in the middle of the season. A paycheck might aid his back issues, however.
Porter is playing on the final year of his deal with a base salary of $3.9 million, making him relatively inexpensive for the remainder of 2026. But the short-term affordability is misleading.
Reports indicate Pittsburgh offered Porter a deal worth more than $27 million for 2026, while he was seeking at least $30 million annually. The Steelers do not negotiate extensions during the season, meaning any team that trades for him would be taking on the same looming decision.
Would the Bears be willing to surrender draft capital for a player who could require a $30 million-per-year extension before he has even played a meaningful snap in Chicago? That is the question.
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Sep 13, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. sits on the bench during a game against the Atlanta Falcons at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images
Porter said he did not request a trade and still expects to play for the Steelers this season. He has tried to close the door on the contract drama, calling the failed negotiations “old news.” But until he is back on the field — and until Pittsburgh decides whether it wants to pay him — the uncertainty will remain.
Chicago should not ignore a chance to add a young, starting-caliber cornerback. The talent is real, and the need is obvious.
But Porter would not be a cheap fix. He would be a high-stakes bet on health, fit and a future contract that could reshape the Bears’ secondary for years.